Message from iDigBio

July 28, 2011

Hello from iDigBio, the HUB for Advancing Digitization of Biological Collections!

[post from NHCOLL-L]
We are moving forward at the University of Florida and Florida State University with the organization necessary to accomplish the goals of ADBC. We have established this listserv as a primary means of communication and have a website under construction (http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/idigbio), a blog (http://idigbio.wordpress.com/) and are on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/IDigBio/215120891865198).

Soon, we will hire a Project Manager to be employed in the central offices of iDigBio. Please see the position announcements at <http://jobs.ufl.edu> (requisitions #0808667) and share it with anyone who is qualified and may wish to apply. Because we hope to be fully functional very soon, it will be necessary for the successful applicant to move to Gainesville in the fall.

Three TCNs have been funded. You can obtain more information on their websites (under development) or by contacting the Principal Investigators.

1. Illinois Natural History Survey at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.
PI: Christopher Dietrich (dietrich@inhs.uiuc.edu)
Topic: InvertNet--An Integrative Platform for Research on Environmental
Change, Species Discovery and Identification
To be digitized: 6.9 million specimens
Website: http://invertnet.dyndns.org/

2. University of Wisconsin at Madison
PIs: Corinna Gries (cgries@wisc.edu)
Topic: North American Lichens and Bryophytes: Sensitive Indicators of
Environmental Quality and Change
To be digitized: 2.3 million specimens
Related portals: http://symbiota.org/nalichens/index.php
http://symbiota.org/bryophytes/index.php

3. American Museum of Natural History
PI: Randall T. Schuh (schuh@amnh.org)
Title: Collaborative Research: Plants, Herbivores, and Parasitoids: A Model
System for the Study of Tri-trophic Associations
To be digitized: 4.0 million specimens

The five PIs at iDigBio and their primary responsibilities and contact information are:

Dr. Jose Fortes, Director, Advanced Computing and Information Systems (ACIS) Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida. iDigBio Director for Computational Activities: oversight of data integration, support for computational needs and assessment of new technologies and programs to facilitate digitization efforts including directing the development of "appliances" to facilitate digitization and the development of cloud storage capabilities. Email: fortes@ufl.edu.

Dr. Bruce MacFadden, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Florida Museum of Natural History. iDigBio Director for Education and Outreach: oversight of educational and outreach activities and their assessment at iDigBio, the TCNs and at other digitization projects involving biological collections. Email: bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu.

Dr. Larry Page, Director, University of Florida Biodiversity Institute and Curator of Fishes, Florida Museum of Natural History. Director of iDigBio: responsible for overall project management, oversight of national resource activities, and implementation of the strategic plan, including assurance that the digitization, research and educational missions of the national resource are integrated and accomplished. Email: lpage@flmnh.ufl.edu; phone: 352-273-1951.

Dr. Gregory Riccardi, Director of Morphbank and Professor of the College of Communication and Information, Florida State University. iDigBio co-Director for Computational Activities: oversight of data integration, support for computational needs and assessment of new technologies and programs to facilitate digitization efforts related to imaging, collection integration, and georeferencing. Email: griccardi@fsu.edu.

Dr. Pamela Soltis, Distinguished Professor, University of Florida, and Curator, Florida Museum of Natural History. iDigBio Director for Research Activities: liaison to the scientific community and coordination of scientific research activities and needs
identified by the collections community with iDigBio and TCN activities. Email: psoltis@flmnh.ufl.edu; phone: 352-273-1964.
Congratulations to everyone involved in ADBC. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to bring attention to the value of biological collections. We must use this opportunity to the maximum!